Nesting type store service carrier



y 7, 1953 w. c. ENDERS 2,644,695

NESTING TYPE sTos' SERVICE CARRIER Filed Oct. 14, 1948 I 4 Sheets-Sheet1 IN VEN TOR.

July 7, 1953 w. c. ENDE NESTING TYPE STORE; SERVICECARRIER 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 14, 1948 July 7, 1953 w. c; ENDERS NESTINGTY'FE-- STORE SERVICE CARRIER 4* Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 14, 1948 y 7,1953 w. c. ENDERS NESTING TYPE STORE SERVICE-CARRIER 4' Sheets-Sheet 4Filed Oct. 14, 1948- Patented July 7, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE2,644,695 I NESTING TYPE STORE SERVICE'GARRIEE William C. Enders,Oklahoma City, Okla. Application October 14, 1948, Serial N 0. 54,539

This invention rel-ates to improvements in basket carriers generallyknown as store service trucks. A

In developments of the present type it has become the practice in someinstances to arrange the baskets or basket supports on the carrierstructure on a plane inclined to the horizontal in order to facilitatethe telescoping or nesting of the structures when not in use. Thesebaskets and basket carriers constructed with their bottoms inclined tothe horizontal have in some instances proven unsatisfactory in that thecommodities normally roll or fall to the lower end of the basketstructure which has the tendency to crush such commodities as may be ofa fragile nature so that when the checking out process is completedthere may be a certain proportion of damaged goods concerning which acustomer may have cause of complaint.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a basket carrier orstore service truck with the basket so constructed and arranged that itwill during normal use have its bottom lie in a horizontal plane so thatthe commodities placed therein will not roll or slide or compact in thestructure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a basket carrier orstore service truck with means to permit the shifting of the basket tosuch a position as to permit the assemblies to be telescoped or nestedwhereby less room is required for the parking of the structures.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means formaintaining the baskets in normal horizontal position when in use orwhenloaded with commodities, the locking means either being inherent in thestructure or a separate structure to accomplish the purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for shifting abasket from its horizontal position upon aligned engagement with anotherbasket during the telescoping or nesting operation.

Other features of the invention will more clearly hereinafter appear byreference to the accompanying drawings and specification wherein likecharacters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation with a disclosure in dotted line of a nestingoperation of three carriers;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the basket showing the end gate structure; g

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation 10 Claims. (Cl. 280- 3339 2showing the details of the pivot of the structure in Fig; 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective of the rear end of that form of basketshown in Figs. 1 and 2 with a slight modification of the pivotalmounting;v I

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of pivotal mountof mounting for the basket;

Fig. -7 is a side elevation of that form of invention shown in Fig.6; I

Fig. 8 is a detailed perspective of that type of mounting shownin Fig. 4with a carrier disclosed in lieu of the basket;

Fig. 9 is a perspective of a modified form of pivoted carrier structurewith a handle operating mechanism; 7

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig.9; and.

Fig. 1-1 is an additional modification having a link lock for thepivoted carrier.

In the present construction a carriage is provided, the carriage beingformedin the nature of a fabricated frame including lower U-shaped metalframe members I and 2, spaced vertically and braced by the lower ends ofthe band or straps 3 forming a lower platform upon which baskets, largebags, and other material maybe placed for the purpose of conveyance. Theplatform straps 3 are bent downwardly at 4 to provide the uprights 5which are welded at spaced intervals to the inner face of the horizontalframe members I and 2. These straps '5 are shown as extending below thelower horizontal member 2 to support a lower bumper structure 6, theends of which are curved rearwardly and inwardly at 1 and assist inrigidly supporting the swiveled wheel support 8,

the latter being of U-shape and being drilled to I support theswivelmounts 9 of the front swivel wheel assembly. The free ends of theU-shaped horizontalllo'wer' frame members I and 2 are connected to thespaced vertical uprights I0 and II by welding or other means at theirpoints of intersection as at l2,1and brace means I4 connect the spaceduprights '18 and H and provide supporting connections for the inclinedlower supporting structure 3 as shown at l5. The rear spaced uprightsill support at their lower end portions the usual rollers orv wheels it.It will be appreciated that the structure heretofore described is moreor less conventional in applicants numerous designs and forms no part ofthemesent invention. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the upper ends of theuprights ID and II are braced Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing alink form and spaced by the intermediate transversely extendingstructural element l1, while cross straps I8 extend longitudinallybetween the uprights I and and from spacers therefor.

A basket structure 20, illustrated in the present instance as fabricatedfrom wire, is provided with a lower outer arranged metallic strap or bar2| which extends from the bottom surface of the basket to lie againstthe lower face of the longitudinally extending outer reinforcing wire'22 of the fabricated wire basket and provides a reinforcing band forthe basket structure. The rearward ends of the strap or band 2| arepierced at spaced points 23 and 23a as shown more clearly in Fig. 3 toprovide for the reception of pins 24 and 26a which are fixed in theopenings and extend horizontally outwardly to engage in the slots 25 andopenings 26. The pin 24a extending into the opening 26 in the uprights Nforms 'a pivot for the basket upon which it can be swung on the axisformed by the pins Mairom -a horizontal to :a slightly inclinedposition, while the pins 24 :move in the slots 25 and limit the'pivo'talmovement of the baskets. By this arrangement the elongated portion ofthe basket 20 provides su-fiicient weight and normally holds the same ina horizontal plane so that when commodities are placedin-the basket theywill stay in their placed position and be held in this position by thefabricated structure of the basket bottom and sidewalls. When thebaskets are to be telescoped or nested the operation will besubstantially as indicated by reference to Fig. 1 wherein the frontbasket is shown in full line with the two following baskets nestedposition. It will be apparent from this disclosure of Fig. 1 that thefront nose of each following basket which is protected by the strip 2|or byo'ther means such as by a shoe will engage the downwardly extendingrear end portion B of the "basket bottom and upon this engagement thecontacting front end C of the basket will be elevated as shown at C andat C to such an inclination to permit the entry and telescoping of theassociated basket structures. It will be understood, of course, that theend wall D of each basket is pivoted at D to permit the entry of theassociated front end of the basket structure and that it will also beobvious that the baskets generally taper forwardly to permit theintermeshing association.

In Fig. 4 the parts are substantially the same, including the uprightsI0 and H, the transverse brace IT, and the longitudinally extendingbrace [8. In this disclosure of Fig. 4 the basket is fabricated of wireand has attached at its rear portion a short plate 30, this plate 30being welded to the wire basket structure and being pivoted at 3| to thefront uprights I and having the pins 32' rearward of the pivot 3| andextending outwardly for movement in the arcuate slots 33 formed in theupper end portions of the uprights I0. In'this form of the invention thestra 2| of the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 has been eliminated andthe conventional wire basket with the rear inclined portion B bentdownwardly is mounted for horizontal arrangement and hinged movement fornesting assembly. It is to be understood that the form of Fig. 4includes a rear hinged gate which is mounted on the transverse wire 35as is conventional in such cases.

Substantially the same hinged movement of the basket may be formed byother inventions which have been illustrated in additional figures suchas Fig. 5. In this figure the uprights l0 and II are formed withoppositely inclined slots 48 and 4|, the .slot .40 formed in the upperend portion of upright I0 being formed below the slot 4| formed in theupper end portion of upright I and inclining downwardly and rearwardly,while the slot 4| inclines downwardly and forwardly so that when abasket which is carried by the frame 42 engages a forwardly positionedbasket for the purpose of nesting, the front pin 43 carried by the frame42 will move upwardly in the slot 4| while the pin! travel downwardly intheslo't 40 thus positioning the frame a 42 in a slightly inclinedposition suitable for nesting. In this figure as in other figures to behereinafter described it is shown that the rear end portions .of'thebasket frame or basket carrier frame have a downwardly inclinedrearwardly extending shoe 45 which shoe is provided with an inwardlyextending flange to receive the bottom edge of the following basket orbasket carrier.

In Form 3 of the invention which is illustrated by Figs. 6 and 7, it isproposed that the shifting of the basket frnm thehorizontal Workingposito inclined nesting position -be accomplished by sliding pinsoperating in inclined slots and associated cranks or eccentrics. Inthese figures the. uprights H! and l have the usual cross brace |:8'andthe upper end portions of the uprights H are formed with rearwardly andupwardlyinclined :slots 5! The basket frame indicated at 5| has securedat its rear bottom edge the transverse bars oryrods 152 and 53, the rod52 having its end extending beyond the side frame and into the slot topermit the' -basket frame or basket carrier to swing upwardlyinthisislot. To the upper end portion of the upright Hi there is hinged a:l-in-k 54pivoted at55-to the upper end of the upright. The lower end ofthe links :54 .are formed withopening-s 55 to receive the ends aof therods 53, this arrangement whenthe front end of the basket 5| or a-basketcarrying frame engages during the nesting 1-operation-the rear end ofthe forward basket, the fram.e5| or the basket carried thereby willshift upwardly and rear-wardly in the inclined siot -5. J"while the rearend of the basketwill swing downwardly with the lower end of the link54. Obviously this link swi gs rearwardly and downwardly and will carrywith it the lower end of the rod 531whioh is attached to the basket andthussubstantially the same operation is accomplished.

In Fig. .8 there is show'nan enlarged detail of the frame, members IDand I] with basket or basket frame pivoted at 58 to the upper end of theforward uprights ll and having a pin 59 travelling in the arcuate slots511a formed in the upper portion 10f the rear uprights HI. In thisdisclosure it will be understood that only one side of the frame isillustrated and the opposite sidewill be constructed in a similarmanner. In this figure "is shown the depending guide or shoe shown inBand indicated by the reference character 45. fAs shown this guide orshoe 45 can be slightly widenedto insure engagement of the adjacentbasket'end' and is inclined downwardly sufficiently to be normallypositioned below the end of the adjacent nesting basket when the latteris in its horizontal position. Fig. 8 illustrates in dotted "lines theapproximate position of the basket which has been indicated in thisfigure "by reference character 5|. It will be understood that the framemember 5| may be an integral part "of the basket structure or may be inthe nature of. a carrierframe to which the basket may be detachablysecured.

- In Form 4 of the invention illustrated Figs. 9 and 10, it is proposedthat the basket'frame 01' basket repnesented Joy. reference charactertil shall be pivoted at 6| to the rear uprights l0, while the frontuprights H shall be formed with arcuate slots 62 having a radiusrepresenting the approximate swinging movement of the basket 68 on thepivot 6| A transverse rod 62a is fixed to the bottom of the basket andhas its end portion extending through the slot 62 so that movement ofthe basket will be limited and determined by the length of the slot 62.In this form of the invention it is proposed to use a U-shaped handle 63which is pivoted at its front free ends at 64 to the uprights H. Thehandle will normally function to push the basket carrier or storeservice truck about during use, however, by utilizing a transverse bar65 which connects the .lowerend portions of the arms 63 and having thistransverse bar or rod 65 normally seated'inza recess 66 in the bottom ofthe basket or frame structure 60 any inclination on the part of thebasket to tilt will be prevented and the basket locked in its downposition. When it is proposed to move the basket or frame 63 to permitits nesting with another basket the handle 63 can be shoved forward onits pivots as as shown in Fig. 10 so that the upper edge portion of thebar or rod 65 will ride beneath the frame 68 and elevate the forwardportion of this frame to the extent permitted by the movement of the rod62a in the s1ot'62. Due to the fact that the front overhang of thebasket or frame 60 will be of substantial weight and further due to thefact that removal of the nested baskets will be brought about by pullingrearward on the handle 63 it will be apparent that as the baskets andtrucks are separated from their nesting association the baskets orframes 68 will return to their normal position and be locked by rods 65against movement by seating in the notch 66 in the bottom of basket 60.

In Fig. 11 an additional modification is illustrated in which the frontupright members II have the basket or basket frame 10 pivoted at H topermit its swinging movement as shown in dotted lines. The rear uprightsIn are formed with arcuate slots 12 in which pins 13 travel. these pinsbeing carried by the basket frame and permitting the downward movementof the rear portion of the basket or basket frame on the pivot H.Normally the basket will be locked and retained in its position by thehinged lock member formed of parts 14 and 15, this broken hinge assemblyformed by the parts 14 and 15' is designed when in normal position to beheld in dead-center alignment on the pin and slot connection 16 by thestop 1". carried by the lower hinge section 15, and the spring member 18connecting the upper hinge section 14 to the pin 19 carried on the frameand carrying the hinge section 15. The upper section of the connectinghinge or link mechanism includes a cam extension 80 which extendsthrough a slot 8| formed in the rearwardly inclined frame portion 82.When in use it will be apparent that the front end of an associatedbasket when moved to telescoping association will travel along the shoeflange 82 and engage the cam extension 8!! to break the joint betweenthe sections 14 and 15 causing these sections to swing rearwardly ontheir slotted hinge connection 16 to the position shown in dotted lines.When the hinge connection is so broken the position of the frame 10 orbasket will be as shown in dotted lines at 83 and the baskets will bepositioned for nesting association. When separated from nestedassociation the weight of the overhanging portion of the basket or frame10 will cause the movement of the hinge to its aligned or dead-centerposition to lock the parts 'so that the basket will be fixed in ahorizontal position. The spring I8 is intended to assist in breaking thelink 14 and 15 and to assist in insuring a positive relative actionbetweenthe associated parts.

In all of the modifications contained in this application the samethought and principle of operation is involved, although the details ofconstruction for accomplishing the purpose in some instances may besubstantially modified. In each of the structures, whether the basket ismounted directly on the frame or whether the basket is supported by aframe, it is intended that during normal use the basket will lie in ahorizontal plane to overcome the difficulties in prior structures inwhich the bottom of theibasket is inclined. Also in all of the forms ofthe invention the basket, or the frame to which the basket is attached,is so constructed and arranged that when his desired to nest thestructures, the associated frames or the associated baskets jean begiven an inclined position. The shiftingof the baskets or frames to theinclined position is in each instance automatic in operation and isbrought about by the nesting operation itself. That is to say, in all ofthe structures it is intended that'as the baskets are edged intoengagement for nesting, mechanism will be caused to operate toautomatically incline the basket or frame structure so that the nestingcan be brought about. In all of the forms with the exception of the formshown in Fig. 5 there is a fixed'pivot upon which the carrier or thebasket is mounted and the fixed pivot is so arranged that the normalweight of the basket overhang will cause the basket or the frame for thebasket to be positioned horizontally. In Fig. 5 in lieu of the fixedpivot and the associated guide and slot or the equivalent thereof, therehas been provided two angularly arranged slots in the frame structure,which slots are associated with co-acting pins whereby the entire basketcarrying frame or basket itself will move in a longitudinal angulardirection to dispose the front of the basket at a greater elevation thanthe rear of the basket.

It is to be noted that while the slots are illustrated as formed in theupright frame structure of the carrying truck, the parts could bereversed and the slots arranged in the basket carrying frame or in thebasket itself and the pins or rods associated with the slots couldproject orlextend between the uprights ID or I I in accordance with themodification involved.

What I claim as new and useful and desire secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A nesting type store service truck including a fixed frame, wheelssupporting said frame, a nesting type basket pivotally supportedintermediate its ends on said frame, a downwardly inclined guidewayextending rearwardly from said basket for guiding a basket of asimilarly constructed truck into nesting association, and guide meanscomprising inter-engaging parts carried by the basket and frame forlimiting the vertical movement of the rear end portion of said basket onits pivot.

2. A store service carriage including a fixed frame, wheels supportingsaid frame, a nesting type basket having an inwardly swinging rear wallpivotally supported by said frame intermediate its end portions,downwardly inclined guides extending rearwardly from said basket, andguide means including a pin and slot connection for limiting thevertical movement of the rear end portion of said basket on its pivot.

3. A nesting store service truck including a fixedframe, wheelssupporting said frame, a nesting type basket pivotally supported.intermediate its end portions by said framexf'or nesting associa tionwith a similar structure, a guideway extending downwardly at the rear ofsaid basket to guide an associated basket into nesting position, saidpivots being arranged so that the greater weight of the basket isforward of the pivots, guide means for limiting the movement of saidbasket on its pivots, said guide means including a pin and slotconnection between the basket and the :frame, said slots being soconstructed and arranged that the basket Will normally be positioned ina horizontal plane, and means for maintaining the basket in saidhorizontal plane.

4. The substance of claim 3 having in addition means for locking thebasket in its horizontal position.

5. The substance of claim 3 having in addition to the means formaintaining the basket in "a horizontal plane, a lock structure, saidlock structure having releasing means capable of actuation by anassociated basket when the latter is moved into nested relation.

6. A telescoping type store service truck including a frame, wheelssupporting said frame, a telescoping type basket pivotally supportedintermediate its end portions by the frame, guide means for limiting themovement of said basket on its pivot from horizontal to inclinedposition, said guide means including a link connection pivotallyarranged between the basket, and frame.

7. In a store service nesting type carriage including a fixed supportingframe, wheels supporting said frame, a basket supportingframe pivotallymounted on the carriage frame intermediate its end portions, a baskethaving a forwardly movable rear wall carried by said frame, and guiderails projecting rearwardly from said basket for receiving and guidingthe outer end of a similar carriage assembly during nesting operation.

8. In a store service truck of the nesting type including a fixed frame,wheels supporting the frame, and a nesting type basket pivotally carriedextending rearwardly and downwardly from the basket to facilitate thenesting operation.

9. In a nesting type store service truck including a fixed frame, wheelssupporting the frame, a

nesting type basket pivotally mounted intermediate its end portions atthe upper end portion of said frame, said basket including a bottom,side and end wallsmme of said' end walls being pivotally supported atits upper portion for inward swinging movement, and guideways fixed tothe bottom portion of said basket and extending rearwardly anddownwardly from said pivoted end wall to guide an associated basket intoa nesting relation.

.10. In a store service carriage of the nesting type, an upright rigidframe, wheels supporting said frame, a nesting type basket pivotallysupported at the upper portion of said frame, said basket including abottom, side walls, and front and rear end walls, the rear end wallbeing supported for inward swinging movement, means includinginter-engaging parts carried by the frame and basket to limit themovement of the basket on its pivots, and a guide member extendingdownwardly and 'rearwardly from the basket bottom to guide similarbaskets into nesting association.

' WILLIAM C. ENDERS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Y Date 1,779,742 Lines Oct. 28, 1930 2,141,881 Schray Dec. 27, 19382,212,053 Smith Aug. 20, 1940 2,284,801 Conger June 2, 1942 2,393,149Cunningham et a1. Jan. 15, 1946 2,456,419 Jackson et -al.. Dec. 14, 19482,456,817 Davenport Dec. 21, 1948 2,479,530 Watson Aug. 16, 1 949

